How pulsed operation affects aluminium bond wires

摘要

AbstractAluminium bond wires are exposed to pulsed current with varying duty cycles, pulse widths and current amplitudes. How these parameters influence the temperature rise in the wire and what it takes to damage or break it are studied. There are two possible failure modes. One is burn‐out due to high current amplitude, the other is metallurgical flexure fatigue at the bond heel. Both failure modes are described. The thermal time constant of the wire is determined for different wire lengths. SEM studies of wires during pulsing are made to see structural changes in the wire when it heats. The bond wire may suffer from damage, which affects the reliability, but it may still function electricall